Painful Splits Along the Way to Stopping Sexual Assault in and Around Austin

Different approaches to accountability lead to rifts throughout the county

"...local rape survivors, advocate Ana Rodriguez DeFrates told the Austin City Council on Jan. 31 that the last few..."

March 15, 2019 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Sexual Assault Advocates Demand Answers for Rape Kit Negligence

Group pens letter to mayor, police chief, city manager

"...status of APD’s ever-growing rape kit backlog has prompted Travis County’s Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team (SARRT) to..."

March 1, 2017 News Post by Sarah Marloff

Sexual Assault Survivors Watch Warily as APD Touts Change

Is everything really different under the new police chief?

"...Hanna Senko is fed up with mere rhetoric. "Myself and many others have been advocating for improvements within the..."

Nov. 5, 2021 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Prosecuting Sexual Assault

DOJ grant provides $650,000 to jump-start new sexual assault prosecution unit

"...Local sexual assault advocates are celebrating a victory after the U.S...."

Oct. 14, 2016 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Election Day Live Coverage for Travis County

Tracking the local races

"...As we all doomscroll and stress-bake our way through this longest of all Election..."

Nov. 3, 2020 News Post by the News Staff

Survival, and Hope in How Austin Handles Sexual Assault

As their legal battle continues, women look forward to political change

"...For nearly two years, the Austin women who sued local law enforcement over the treatment..."

Oct. 23, 2020 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Is Travis County Doing Enough for Rape Survivors?

SARRT study says not so

"...Every aspect of Austin and Travis County's sexual assault response system is under-resourced,..."

April 20, 2018 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

More Survivors Willing to Join Sexual Assault Class Action

Attorneys for the survivors’ lawsuit presented to Public Safety Commission Monday

"...if a new complaint is filed in the ongoing sexual assault survivors' lawsuit against the city of Austin, Travis..."

June 7, 2019 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Austin’s Sexual Assault Controversies Roil the District Attorney’s Race

Margaret Moore's controversial handling of rape cases brings opponents to the race

"...How does it feel seeing sexual assault become an election issue?..."

Feb. 7, 2020 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Travis D.A. Announces New Policies to Support Rape, Abuse Survivors

D.A.’s Office commits to culture change to aid access to justice

"...The Travis County District Attorney’s Office, led by José Garza, has..."

Feb. 26, 2021 News Post by Sarah Marloff

City Council Picks Team to Audit APD Rape Cases

The 18-month project will be led by D.C.-based Police Executive Research Forum

"...Council unanimously called for a comprehensive audit of the Austin Police Department's handling of sexual assault cases, it approved..."

Sept. 27, 2019 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Front Steps Slips and Falls

As the nonprofit that runs the ARCH falls apart, the city's rush to replace it frustrates providers

"...by Front Steps – the nonprofit that has operated Austin's Downtown emergency shelter, the Austin Resource Center for the..."

July 29, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

APD Updates County on Moldy Rape Kits

Operations resume, new protocol for informing stakeholders to come

"...The Austin Police Department will resume all remediation efforts to remove..."

July 6, 2017 News Post by Sarah Marloff

Former APD Sergeant Liz Donegan Runs for Sheriff

Former Sex Crimes head motivated by response to sexual assault crisis

"...Former Austin Police Department sergeant and co-chair of the Austin/Travis County..."

July 22, 2019 News Post by Mary Tuma

Audits Ahead for APD Crime Labs

Forensics lab to onboard new director, plus SARRT letter

"...Finally, a full year after the Austin Police Department shuttered its DNA lab due to out-of-date..."

July 17, 2017 News Post by Sarah Marloff

A Safe Place?

Parties, alcohol, and attitudes are contributing to a high number of sexual assaults in Austin

"...Every 107 seconds someone is sexually assaulted in the U.S., and in Texas, two in..."

Sept. 25, 2015 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Why Aren’t UT Students Getting Rape Kits?

The numbers don't add up

"...with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Bell was born and raised in Austin, and she hopes to stay here..."

March 30, 2018 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Corrupt Cop on the Chopping Block

APD officer helped a domestic violence suspect evade arrest, according to Chief Joe Chacon memo

"...Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon announced in a disciplinary memo..."

April 1, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

APD Chief Joseph Chacon’s Legacy

Assessing the final years of a career that saw a rise from beat cop to chief of police

"...Joseph Chacon will retire from the Austin Police Department in two weeks, ending a career at..."

Aug. 25, 2023 News Feature by Austin Sanders

APD Victims Services Unit Calls on Local Therapists for Help

Unit offers training in EMDR therapy in exchange for pro bono counseling for trauma survivors

"...Local therapists, the Austin Police Department wants you to help with long-term intervention..."

April 14, 2023 News Feature by Dex Wesley Parra

Crime Lab: Evidence of Improvement?

Audits on active forensic labs expected to begin before July's end

"...Finally, a full year after the Austin Police Department shuttered its DNA lab due to out-of-date..."

July 21, 2017 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Demand for Rape Kits High

SafePlace is receiving two to three requests per day

"...At 12:01am on May 30, SafePlace began offering Sexual Assault Forensic Exams (SAFEs, colloquially known as rape kits)...."

July 24, 2015 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Rape Kit Backlog Reaches Zero

Kits have been sent out for testing, but the wait continues

"...The Austin Police Department’s notorious rape kit backlog is no more...."

April 9, 2018 News Post by Sarah Marloff

Who’s Testing APD’s Backlog of Evidence?

“Everything is on hold”

"...Austin Police have accumulated more than 4,000 untested DNA cases..."

Feb. 24, 2017 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Oops!

"...In last week's feature on the response to sexual assault in Travis County ("Painful Splits Along..."

March 22, 2019 Column

Rape Kit Backlog Cleared: Now What?

Advocates still uncertain of what’s being done with the results

"...Oct. 31, Council Member Greg Casar announced that the Austin Police Department has tested its entire backlog of rape..."

Nov. 16, 2018 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

FY 2018 Budget to Help Rape Survivors

City will provide one-time $50,000 allocation to train therapists

"...Advocates for sexual assault survivors are celebrating a $50,000 win after City..."

Sept. 22, 2017 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

APD Asks City Council for Financial Help With DNA Testing

And more news from the dais

"...Since the Austin Police Department shuttered its flawed crime lab in 2016,..."

April 26, 2019 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Council Recap: Meet the New Chief, Not the Same as the Old Chief

Chacon commits to change as academy moves toward reopening

"...Manley retires this weekend after 30 years at the Austin Police Department...."

March 26, 2021 News Post by Austin Sanders

Postmarks

Righteous readers respond to recent rape reportage, and our Best of Austin issue garners a kudo or two.

"...From the Travis Co. Attorney..."

Oct. 19, 2001 Column